Costa Rica 2022

A 8-day adventure by LeeAnna Read more

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Trip start
December 1, 2022
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Day 1
Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 12:45 PM
🌧 25 °C
Altitude: 917 m
Costa Rica Juan Santamaría International Airport 9.99606, -84.206589°59’46” N 84°12’24” W
SJO
December 1, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
We made it!

We had to search for our driver, Alberto for several minutes... We suspect he was in the restaurant watching the world cup.

We pulled into the van and started the 3ish hr drive to Manuel Antonio.Read more
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Day 1
Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 2:30 PM
🌧 27 °C
Altitude: 139 m
Costa Rica San Jerónimo 9.85797, -84.576549°51’29” N 84°34’36” W
El Jardín Souvenires, Orotina, Alajuela
December 1, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 27 °C
Partway through our drive we stopped for snacks and bathrooms.
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Day 1
Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 4:29 PM
🌧 26 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Boca Vieja 9.45085, -84.167399°27’3” N 84°10’3” W
BM Supermercado
December 1, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
As we neared our destination we stopped at a supermarket to pick up sunscreen, drinks, snacks, and breakfast foods. Most of our tours started early on the day, leaving no time for us search out breakfast options.Read more
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Day 1
Thursday, December 1, 2022 at 5:00 PM
🌧 25 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 1, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 25 °C
We finally arrived at our accommodations at the owner, Paula met us when we arrived. She showed us around the ground then led us to our villa, the Mono Vista Villa near the back of the grounds.

It was a smallish 2 bedroom unit, AC in the bedrooms only. We had a full kitchen and a large bathroom with 2 showers, 2 sinks, and 2 closets. We also had a large patio and both bedrooms had doors that opened up onto it.

At first it was miserable inside, very humid and hot. Once we got the AC and fans going and opened everything up it became much better.

We were tired, dehydrated, and unsure if we were even hungry but after we cooled down and settled in we decided to order some pizzas for delivery from La Colina. The food was actually REALLY good, and we sat out on the porch and ate and listened to the wild jungle sounds.

Shortly after eating we all turned in for some much needed rest.Read more
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Day 2
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 10:40 AM
☀️ 25 °C
Altitude: 6 m
Costa Rica Manuel Antonio National Park 9.38932, -84.147059°23’22” N 84°8’49” W
Manuel Antonio National Park
December 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 25 °C
We were picked up bright and early for our tour of Manuel Antonio National Park. Our tour guide was Edgar from Jade Tours and he was amazing. I have no idea how he was able to spot some of these animals because they were camouflaged so well. He keeps us laughing the entire time and knew so much about the park and animals.

The day was extremely humid but luckily the hike was not intense and we stopped frequently to look at animals.

We stopped at 2 beautiful beach points, where we were allowed to get in the water but we decided to just keep hiking.

By the end of the tour I was soaked in sweat but we were greeted with cold towels and fresh fruit before we ride back to the hotel. It was amazing.Read more
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Day 2
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 12:00 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
After our sweaty hike we had just a few moments to relax until being picked up for our spicefarm tour!
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Day 2
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 25 °C
Altitude: 180 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Marucha 9.47262, -84.05959°28’21” N 84°3’34” W
Villa Vanilla, Naranjito, Aguirre, Punta
December 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 25 °C
At the last minute via Reddit, I found a tour at this spice farm just about a half hour from Manuel Antonio. I'm so glad I did because it was such a fun tour!

Joyce was our tour guide and had SO MUCH information about how they harvest cacao, vanilla beans, cloves, peppercorns.. how they hand pollinate they vanilla plants and how much painstaking work is put into getting these spices. She taught us about medicinal uses and what is bad about cheap spices. We walked all around the tour in the rain but it was so worth it.

At the end of the tour, we were presented with a tasting menu of delicious food made with spices from the farm. The craziest by far was the xocoatl, or Mayan drink of the gods. Made with dark chocolate and cayenne pepper, it was QUITE spicy. She had us taste it first, and then put a few drops of vanilla extract in it and by some miracle of science the vanilla tamed down the spiciness of the cayenne. Amazing.

At the end of the tour we stopped by the shop and ended up buying quite a lot of $$ worth of spices that I can't wait to try out!Read more
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Day 2
Friday, December 2, 2022 at 4:45 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 2, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
Back to the villa for the night. After a busy day we again did not feel like venturing out so we ordered delivery from Manuel Antonio Falafel Bar, some more amazing food!
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 8:30 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 7 m
Costa Rica Estero Boca Vieja 9.42779, -84.167939°25’40” N 84°10’5” W
Quepos Marina, Aguirre, Puntarenas, Cost
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
Today was snorkeling, and while we were waiting for our ride, Paula, who always seemed to be hovering above us (literally) commented that since they had been having so much rain the water would probably be quite murky. She also let us know that there was a smooth in the tree right above the pool!

We set out from the Quepos Marina with one other family from Tennessee!Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 9:00 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Costa Rica Playa Pará 9.40563, -84.169129°24’20” N 84°10’9” W
Snorkeling at Beisanz
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
After a short boat ride we were at our destination off of Beisanz Beach and it was time for Kevin and Varian's first time snorkeling.

Paula was right though, the water was murky but our tour guide in the water, Jason handed out peeves of pineapple to feed the zebra striped fish that were all around. We stayed in the water for about 35-40 minutes and then headed back on the boat.Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 10:30 AM
☀️ 27 °C
Altitude: Sea level
Costa Rica Bahía Manuel Antonio 9.38333, -84.148179°22’60” N 84°8’53” W
Jumping off Boat
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 27 °C
We cruised along in the boat to a spot near the famous whale tail in Manuel Antonio National Park and stopped for some swimming and for the kids (and Kevin) to jump off the top of the boat.
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 11:00 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 9 m
Costa Rica Estero Boca Vieja 9.42515, -84.168149°25’31” N 84°10’5” W
Quepos Marina, Aguirre, Puntarenas, Cost
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 11:45 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 1:00 PM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 134 m
Costa Rica Playa Pará 9.4052, -84.157349°24’19” N 84°9’26” W
Emilio's Cafe
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
We had lots of time before our night hike so we hoped on the bus and went down to Emilio's Cafe for some lunch.

The view was absolutely stunning!
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 2:30 PM
🌧 26 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 6:30 PM
🌧 24 °C
Altitude: 149 m
Costa Rica Quebrada San Cristóbal 9.57736, -84.214319°34’38” N 84°12’52” W
Rainmaker Park, 7 Km de la Carretera Pri
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
We were picked up just after dark for our Night Jungle Hike and we're thrilled to have be Edgar as our guide again!

We drove almost an hour to Rainmaker Park and we're handed flashlights and Edgar led us through the dark park looking for frogs, snakes, spiders and whatever else was lurking in the dark.

Edgar again was amazing and watching him call out to find the red eyed tree frog was crazy. He would call out then the frog would call back and he would continue until he found the frog.

We also found centipedes, and learned that if you rub some of them (gross) they give off the smell of cyanide (sweet almonds)! Wild!Read more
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Day 3
Saturday, December 3, 2022 at 9:30 PM
🌧 24 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 3, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 24 °C
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Day 4
Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 9:30 AM
⛅ 26 °C
Altitude: 420 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Castro 9.25627, -83.795749°15’23” N 83°47’45” W
Nauyaca Waterfall Nature Park
December 4, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 26 °C
This tour was awesome... and eventful.

We drove about an hour away past Dominical to the nature park where we were to take a "shuttle", which was a tractor with a trailer attached to the back. The shuttle was furiously bouncing around as we went what seemed like straight up and down and around sharp corners until.... A wheel fell off! From there our guide Brian said "I guess we're walking from here"! It was all down hill from there so it really wasn't bad.

Since I've gained so much weight not long after we started the actual "hike" I was breathless, sweaty, and tired. We finally reached the upper part of the waterfall where I was glad to rest for a few minutes... Then it was on to the bottom where we could actually swim and hang out.

It was beautiful and felt great to just sit in the water with it rushing past you, feeling the sun but staying cool. We hung out for about an hour, ate some pineapple and then began the ALL UPHILL hike back to the ranchero where luckily they were sending a tractor with all the wheels to pick us up.

After that we had a chicken and rice lunch then headed back to Jungle Creek.Read more
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Day 4
Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 10:18 AM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 159 m
Costa Rica Río Barucito 9.25625, -83.809649°15’22” N 83°48’35” W
Nauyaca Waterfall
December 4, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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Day 4
Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 3:40 PM
🌧 26 °C
Altitude: 70 m
Costa Rica INVU 9.41613, -84.154599°24’58” N 84°9’17” W
Jungle Creek Villas, Aguirre, Puntarenas
December 4, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ 🌧 26 °C
We arrived back to Jungle Creek and our ride to San Jose was already waiting on us.

We gathered our things and we're quickly on our way back across half of the country with by far the stranger driver yet... MarvinRead more
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Day 4
Sunday, December 4, 2022 at 9:30 PM
⛅ 16 °C
Altitude: 1,155 m
Costa Rica San Bosco 9.93219, -84.092359°55’56” N 84°5’32” W
Park Inn by Radisson San Jose, Ave 6, St
December 4, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 16 °C
We arrived pretty late to the hotel, ordered room service and passed out.

We were up early the next day for a quick (delicious) breakfast and then off with our next driver, Amis towards Puerto Viejo.

On the ride Amis have us GREAT advice to look for ppl selling ginger cookies on the streets of the town and said they were delicious.

Even though an apparent landslide took out the main road from San Jose, Amis got us there pretty quickly.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, December 5, 2022 at 10:30 AM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 23 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Hotel 9.65787, -82.77339°39’28” N 82°46’24” W
Banana Azul
December 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
We arrived much earlier than expected to our hotel and while I was told check in was at 1... Apparently it wasn't until 2. We stowed our bags in the office and ate lunch. Kevin and I went and took a nap on the beach while Varian walked around and explored until it was time to go to the Jaguar Rescue.Read more
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Day 5
Monday, December 5, 2022 at 2:00 PM
☀️ 28 °C
Altitude: 18 m
Costa Rica Punta Cocles 9.64247, -82.723549°38’33” N 82°43’25” W
Jaguar Rescue Center, Talamanca, Limón 7
December 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ☀️ 28 °C
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Day 5
Monday, December 5, 2022 at 4:30 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 14 m
Costa Rica Punta Cocles 9.64359, -82.722639°38’37” N 82°43’21” W
The Spicy Coconut
December 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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Day 5
Monday, December 5, 2022 at 5:15 PM
⛅ 27 °C
Altitude: 17 m
Costa Rica Quebrada Hotel 9.65883, -82.773959°39’32” N 82°46’26” W
Banana Azul
December 5, 2022 in Costa Rica ⋅ ⛅ 27 °C
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